Toward Quality Biosolids Management

About this Manual continuedouts. Review “Training Modules” of other presenters toavoid overlap with your presentation.State or regional biosolids management organization:Determine the structure and topics to be included in avoluntary certification/accreditation program.Biosolids manager (wastewater treatment facility orprivate business): Use “Training Modules” to conduct inhouse training for employees.Biosolids managers/employees: Conduct self-directedtraining using existing guidance documents in conjunctionwith Need-to-knows in the “Training Modules.”Preparers of biosolids guidance documents: Organizeguidance information to be compatible with the modularorganization of the “Training Modules.”Developers of national program for biosolids training:Use “Training Modules” as a first draft of an outline for anational curriculum. Add/combine/delete modules to reachconsensus on minimum national standards. Revise suggested structure for national training in “Outlook for aCoordinated National Training Program” to meet traininggoals.What is not in this manual?This manual does not ensure the quality of training provided. It gives a general outline for training, but relies onthe workshop organizers and presenters to deliver timelyand appropriate information. The manual does not provideready-to-use handout materials for workshop participants.This task is left to organizers and presenters of biosolidstraining events.This manual, although useful for a national audience, isfocused on biosolids management in the Pacific Northwest.For example, soil testing at biosolids application sites isrequired by some states in the Pacific Northwest. There8 Toward Quality Biosolids Management: A Trainer’s Manual

About this Manual continuedfore, this topic is covered in a training module. Soil testingis not required by EPA regulations. Organizers and presenters in other regions will need to customize the trainingmodules to fit local conditions.In training modules on land application of biosolids, themanual focuses on agricultural site management. Biosolidscan promote vegetation establishment and increase theproductivity of many kinds of nonagricultural sites, including forests, Christmas tree farms, poplar plantations, rangelands, and drastically disturbed sites (e.g., urban sites andmining sites). Additional modules for management ofspecific kinds of application sites could be added whenthere is a demand for training in these areas.This manual aims to provide broad coverage of topicsimportant to biosolids management. It highlights key topics, but does not provide all the details. The use of thistraining manual is not a substitute for a thorough knowledge of federal and state rules pertaining to biosolids management. The manual is also incomplete in its coverage oftopics that may be important to biosolids management.Wastewater treatment processes, biosolids storage, andother topics may have a place in a biosolids training program. Future revisions to enhance the training conceptsoutlined here are encouraged and applauded.Land applicationtraining modulesfocus onagricultural sites.Toward Quality Biosolids Management: A Trainer’s Manual 9

About this Manual continuedCode of Good PracticeNorthwest Biosolids Management Association (NBMA)The Code of Good Practice, prepared by the Northwest Biosolids Management Association (NBMA) in 1998,summarizes goals and objectives for environmentally responsible biosolids management programs. The Code wasdeveloped by a cooperative process involving biosolids generators, regulatory agencies, and other interested parties.It is formatted for participants to sign after completion of a training workshop, indicating the participant’s commitment to work toward responsible environmental management. The Code is expected to undergo continued refinement in the coming years as it is adapted for nationwide use.Regulatory ComplianceMaintain compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.Biosolids Product QualityProvide valuable products for beneficial use that adhere to regulatory quality standards for metals, pathogenreduction, and vector attraction reduction. Recognizing that each generating facility operates individually, eachfacility should consider other product quality parameters such as aesthetics, usability, and consistency as biosolidsare provided to the public or placed in the environment.Public InformationProvide meaningful public information and opportunities for public involvement, including a communication planaddressing the public, users, and interested others.Safe TransportationPrevent nuisance conditions and spills during transportation. An Incident Response Plan specific to the biosolids andthe geographic area in which they are transported should be carried in each vehicle, and drivers should be trained inits utilization.Application Site ManagementEnsure appropriate and practical application site practices, including nutrient application planning (i.e., agronomicrates), recognized best management practices, maintenance of buffer zones, and site selection criteria.Good HousekeepingRequire good housekeeping practices to prevent odor, traffic, dust, noise, etc. from impacting biosolids projectneighbors and the general public.Contingency PlanningRequire programmatic contingency or emergency plans for unexpected but predictable events (e.g., inclementweather, spills, injuries).Continual ImprovementEnsure continual improvement for biosolids programs and personnel by participating in training and educationalopportunities, voluntary periodic self-auditing, and management reviews, and by encouraging third-party verification.Statement of SupportI have successfully completed the NBMA biosolids training program and agree to uphold the principles of this Codeof Good Practice to the best of my abilities.Signature DateAffiliationThis Code of Good Practice for biosolids recycling was developed through a Cooperative Agreement between theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Northwest Biosolids Management Association.10 Toward Quality Biosolids Management: A Trainer’s Manual

Organizing a Training ProgramPreparing for a training workshopEffective workshop organizer(s) are one of the keys to asuccessful workshop. More than one person is often neededto organize a training program. A team approach to prepare,conduct, and evaluate the workshop is highly recommended.A team approach toThe tasks involved in preparing for a workshop, and suggestions to perform these tasks efficiently, are outlinedbelow:1. Define the target audience for the training—basic oradvanced. Start with basic training to reach the largestnumber of biosolids managers.prepare, conduct,2. Decide on the length of the training workshop—1 or2 days. A 1-day workshop might not give you enoughtime to cover all aspects of basic biosolids management.It is usually restricted to a lecture format. A 2-day workshop allows much more opportunity for thorough coverage of the wide-ranging subject matter. It also allows for“hands-on” participatory activities or tours.recommended.and evaluate theworkshop is highly3. Choose a time/location for training. Think aboutconducting the training in conjunction with an existingwastewater operator’s short school, annual biosolidsmanagement association meeting, or other existingevent. Partnering with existing events reduces cost forparticipants, provides free publicity for the workshop,and usually ensures a good turnout.4. Make arrangements for meeting facilities. Make surethat the facility can accommodate the participatorygroup activities that supplement the lectures and presentations.5. Determine which training modules will be covered.Shown in the table below are training modules that canbe reasonably covered in a 1- or 2-day program (approximately 6 hours of instruction per day). It is helpful,but not critical, to present the modules in the order listedin the matrix table. Try to alternate data-intensive lecture presentations with group participation activities. AnToward Quality Biosolids Management: A Trainer’s Manual 11

Organizing a Training Program continuedadvanced workshop on any of the training modulescould be offered as a half-day program in conjunctionwith a wastewater short school or annual biosolidsmanagement association meeting.Training module1-day workshop2-day workshop1. Regulatory ComplianceXX2. Biosolids Quality2.1 EPA Part 503 Requirements2.2 Sampling and Testing BiosolidsXXX3. Public InformationXX4. Transportation to Land ApplicationXXXXXX5. Land Application: Nutrient Management5.1 Introduction5.2 Calculation of Agronomic Rates5.3 Soil Testing6. Land Application: Site Management6.1 Site Suitability6.2 Biosolids ApplicationXXX6. Select presenters/trainers. Choose individuals withcomplementary expertise. For a 1-day workshop, a teamincluding a regulator, a biosolids manager, a consultingengineer, and a crop/soil scientist is desirable.7. Decide whether participants will receive a notebook.Assembling a notebook of speaker handout materialsusually is greatly appreciated by participants. The notebook provides a reference for future use and ensures thatevery participant gets all the handout materials. It alsocan be used as an information source for a take-hometest. Assembling the notebook is a major task. If youchoose to provide a notebook, make sure you identify aperson to supervise notebook construction and add thecost of the notebook to your budget.8. Set a workshop cost/price. Try to keep costs lowenough to make the training affordable for small wastewater treatment facility operators. Consulting firms or12 Toward Quality Biosolids Management: A Trainer’s Manual

Organizing a Training Program continuedregulatory agencies may be willing to pick up part of theworkshop cost. More participants from smaller wastewater treatment facilities will attend if you can providecontinuing education credits (CEUs) for wastewateroperator certification.9. Determine the need for a workshop education coordinator. Often workshop presenters may not have muchtraining and instruction experience. In this case, youneed a workshop education coordinator. A coordinatorcan ask questions of the presenter or make summarycomments after a presentation that help to clarify keyconcepts. The coordinator also can facilitate a discussion between the participants and the presenter. A goodcoordinator will make the workshop a successful learning experience. If you feel comfortable with the topicscovered and have facilitation experience, you may serveas education coordinator yourself. Alternatively, invite aspecialist or consultant (see “Working with an educationcoordinator,” below).Working with an education coordinatorAn education coordinator is a person selected by the workshop organizer who has primary responsibility for theeducational value of the training program. The coordinatorshould be familiar with all of the topics included in thetraining, attend all training sessions at the workshop, and beavailable to assist presenters in making smooth transitionsbetween training sessions. The coordinator plays a key rolein helping to ensure a consistent training experience whenpresenters are not familiar with the total program.Other roles the education coordinator could fill:Before the workshopu Work with the training organizer to select presenters.u Resolve any problems with presentations that mayoverlap.Toward Quality Biosolids Management: A Trainer’s Manual 13

Organizing a Training Program continuedu Contact presenters and discuss how their presentationfits into the overall program.u Assemble a notebook of presenter handout materials.At the workshopu Clarify for presenters what earlier presenters actuallycovered (if different from the planned program).u Introduce presenters, and tell how the presentation fitsin the context of the total training workshop.u Conduct review session(s) with participants to summarize, review, and link the concepts covered by presenters.u Solicit written and oral participant evaluations of theworkshop.After the workshopu Summarize the workshop evaluations for the trainingorganizer(s).u Make suggestions for improvements in the next workshop.14 Toward Quality Biosolids Management: A Trainer’s Manual

Organizing a Training Program continuedProviding presenters withappropriate informationQuality presentations are a keycomponent of the training effort.The workshop organizer mustprovide presenters with adequatepreparatory materials and information. At a minimum, provide presenters with the followingdocuments:An overall outline of theworkshop. See thetables in the first pagesof “Training Modules.”Training modules forthe topics you wantthem to cover.“Presenting at aTraining Program”(next chapter in thismanual)How does a presenteruse the trainingmodules? (first sectionin “Training Modules”)To improve the overall quality ofthe workshop and avoid overlapamong the various presentations,you may also provide the presenterswith:“Innovative Presentation Methods”“Training Resources”Training modules thatother instructorspresentToward Quality Biosolids Management: A Trainer’s Manual 15

Organizing a Training Program continuedLessons learned about working with presentersDuring 2 years of pilot workshops in Oregon, we learnedthe following:u Volunteers are willing to serve as presenters, but generally don’t want to make their presentations fit into anarrow, rigidly defined curriculum.u The personal touch and creativity of different presentersmakes training more interesting and relevant.Promote theu Presenters need detailed information on the total workshop to make their sessions fit into the curriculum.personal touch andu Clearly defining individual topics for each presenterhelps reduce confusion and excessive overlap betweenpresentations.creativity ofdifferent presentersto make trainingmore interestingand relevant.u Working with as many presenters as possible makes thetraining program sustainable on a long-term basis.u Presenters avoid burnout if they don’t have to do thesame program every year. Increasing the pool of presenters makes training possible at more locations. Participants in training workshops may attend in successiveyears if presenters are rotated.Evaluating the workshopA written evaluation, completed by participants, is anintegral part of a training workshop. A thorough evaluationmakes planning and executing the next workshop easier,since you have data on the things that worked well andthose that can be improved. Consider offering participantsa tangible reward for completing a workshop evaluation. InOregon, we included the evaluation questions in multiplechoice format on the take-home test, and awarded credit forany response. Other rewards could include T-shirts, coffeemugs, key chains, etc. If rewards are not offered, only 10 to20 percent of participants may complete the evaluations.16 Toward Quality Biosolids Management: A Trainer’s Manual

Presenting at a Training ProgramThis section is directed toward presenters recruited tomake a presentation at a biosolids training program.It highlights ways that presenters can work with theworkshop organizer, an education coordinator, and workshop participants to make the training experience morevaluable. It also describes a number of presentation formatsthat involve the participants in creative thinking and handson learning.The role of presentersThink of your presentation as a part of a competencybuilding process. Your role in the training workshop issimilar to that filled by a subcontractor on a large construction project. If, for instance, you were in charge of framinga building, you would do this only after the building planwas approved and the foundation was in place. Similarly, inthe workshop, you need to coordinate your presentationwith other presenters to create a useful learning experiencefor the training participants.Other players on the workshop teamLet’s review who else is on the team. Commonly, the otherplayers on the team include workshop organizer(s), otherpresenters, and an education coordinator.The trainingworkshop is acompetencybuilding process.Workshop organizer(s) are responsible for making physicalarrangements for the workshop (room size and type, audiovisual capabilities, time, date, place, etc.). They prepare thetraining program outline, recruit presenters, arrange forpublicity, and handle workshop registration. Ask the workshop organizer for the description of any training modulesthat are directly related to the one you will present. Youalso may want to contact some of other presenters directlyto make sure your presentations aren’t overly repetitive.The education coordinator is responsible for the quality ofinstruction provided by the workshop. The coordinator isfamiliar with all of the topics included in the training, andshould attend all training sessions to assist presenters. Priorto the training event, if you’re not sure about the level ofToward Quality Biosolids Management: A Trainer’s Manual 17

Presenting at a Training Program continueddetail to include in your presentation, solicit the input of thecoordinator.Don’t forget toconsider theabilities and needsof workshopparticipants.Don’t forget to consider the abilities and needs of workshopparticipants. If you’re still unfamiliar with the audienceability level after visiting with the coordinator, considersitting in on one of the early introductory sessions in thetraining workshop.Identifying your role in the overall train

ciation of Clean Water Agencies (ACWA), and the Northwest Biosolids Manage- . Douglas Peters, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland, OR Kris McCumby, Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Fairbanks, AK . (Revised edition available in 1999.) A plain English guide to the EPA Part 503 biosolids rule. EPA Publ. 832-R-93-003.